Improvement in locks



PATENT OFFICE.

B. V. M. BROU'SE, OF KOKOMO, INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN LOCKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 55,460, dated June 12, 1866.

To all whom fit may concern:

Be it known that I, B. V. M. BRoUsE, of Kokomo, in the county of Howard and Sta-te of Indiana, have made new and useful Improvements in Locks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the nature, construction, and operation of the same, sufficient to enable one skilled in the art to which it appertains to construct and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, which are made part orn this specification, and in which the lock is represented with the face or covering-plate removed.

Figure .1 is an elevation. on the line x or, Fig. 1. the line y y, Fig. l.

The invention consists, rst, in a device for closing the entrance against any key but one adapted to remove the obstacle; second, in a mutual adaptation of the key and tumblers to their respective purposes; third, in the application ot' the detaining-tumbler, which, in its Fig. 2 is a section Fig. 3 is a section on respective position, constitutes the device a lock or a latch.

In the drawings, A is the main plate or case ot' the lock, and in it is a slot, B, which is occupied by the main bolt O, from the lower edge ot' which extends a lug, c', upon which abuts a spring, D, whose tendency is to keep the bolt C continually projected. A handle, E, on the bolt alords the'means for its retraction within the case when required.

In Fig. l the lock is shown in its character as a latch, the bolt C being susceptible of movement either way by the handle and spring, respectively, its motion beinglimited by the tumbler F, which occupies (under these circumstances) the slot d in the upper edge ot' the bolt (l.

This may be said to complete the description ofthe lock in its character as a latch; but when it is desired to lock the bolt C, so as no longer to loe-under the control or" the handle E, it is accomplished by pressing` upward the knob f ot' the tumbler F, so that the latter is disengaged from the slot d ofthe bolt G, when the spring D presses the bolt outwardly until the tumblers H H', under the impulse of the springs I I, are projected into the slots t' z' of the bolt C and lock it in its projected position. Under these circumstances the tumbler F rests upon the top of the bolt, which cannot be retracted except by the withdrawal of the tumblers H H from their position in the slots fi z. This is performed by mea-ns of the key K, which has two knobs or projections, M M, whose relative size, shape, and position are such as to adapt them to come in contact with the projecting portions, 7L lt, respectively, of the tumblers H H.

In the introduction of the key into the slot P of the lock au obstacle is presented by thc plate N, which, by means of the springs 0 O, is made to close the aperture. rlhc end L ot' the key is sharpened so as to enter between the plate N and the covering-plate ofthe lock and to push aside the plate N, as represented in Fig. 2. The key, being specially-adapted to its duty, is then further introduced until the projections M M are in contact with the tumblers, which is the point at which the handle of the key strikes the end ot' the lock-case. The key is now litted so as to withdraw the tumblers from contact with the bolt, which is withdrawn by the handle E, permitting the tumbler F, under the impulse of the spring' J to again engage with the notch d ot' the bolt.

The notches t' fi of the bolt, the distances apart of the tumblers, and the relative posi tions of the projections on the key must each and all agree 5 but by special adaptations and by increasing their number such changes may be made as shall prevent one key from unlocking any but the one lock for which it is espec'ally designed.

It is especiallyintended for gate, barn-door, or stable lock, and does not require a key to lock it, as that is accomplished by pressing upward the tumbler F.

Having described myinven tion, whatI claim therein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination of the pointed keyK and the spring obstacle-plate N, substantially as described.

2. The combination ofthe toothed key K with the spring-tumblers H H', spring-bolt with notches i z', arranged and operated substantially as described and represented.

3. The combination ot the notched springbolt C with notch d and the spring-tumbler F j', arranged and operating substantially as described and represented.

B. V. M. BROUSE,

Witnesses 0. H. MARTIN, C. J. BIeHrrEL. 

